Parole denied for New Zealand's longest-serving inmate

Parole was denied on Tuesday for New Zealand's longest-serving prison inmate citing reasons that he would need 24-hour supervision and care if he was released from jail.

Alfred Thomas Vincent, 77, has 13 convictions for sexual offending, but admitted abusing more than 100 children before being locked up 47 years ago, Radio New Zealand reported.

He has been repeatedly declined parole and has been subject to numerous postponement orders.

A 2012 postponement order expired last month, but in a Parole Board decision issued on Tuesday, the board has once again declined his bid for release.

The decision said there had been a "noticeable deterioration in Vincent's understanding of what is going on around him, and his offending".

"However, his risk of sexual re-offending remains," it said.

"Despite his advanced years, he is said to exhibit a strong and persistent pattern of highly sexualised interest and behaviour."

Some of Vincent's health conditions were withheld from the board's decision but it said his eyesight and hearing were failing.

Vincent is classified as a minimum security prisoner and has not been mentioned on any misconduct reports.

He started on the Child Sex Offender Treatment Programme four times and completed it once.

"There is no question of a further referral," the decision said.